What Are Your Reading Plans for 2022?

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All kinds of people make a commitment to reading X number of books in a year. Some have lists they want to read through. Others join a book club. Then there are those that fly by the seat of their pants. They read whatever appeals to them at the moment they sit down to read.  

I’ve always read books. As far back as I remember. Little chapter books, then middle grade fiction. I loved anything that was paranormal. The librarian in my middle school would quiz me about the books I’d read over night. By high school, my meager paycheck went for books more than clothes or makeup.  

I was streaming a comedy special on Netflix the other night when the comedian said he hadn’t read a book in maybe forever. He didn’t like to read. I’ve heard about these people, but I’ve never seen one in the wild. My gut plummeted, and I gasped. How can you not read? Like how? Seriously? 

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If you’re not a big reader, there are ways to get on the reading bandwagon. You may find you’re addicted to stories once you get going. 

Here are some ideas. 

I get a book a month from my Scribbler box. I try to read them all. I fail and that’s ok. Because I’m not picking the book, I usually get something I wouldn’t normally pick to read. It’s made me grow as both a reader and as a writer.  

I joined two book clubs. One is very structured while the other is laid back. These are books I wouldn’t choose to read. But they are less literary than the Scribbler box books. There hasn’t been an author that I’m so glad I got to read, but there were some stories that I’m glad I visited.  

My critique group is reading a book a month. I’ve learned so much from their reading choices. It explains to me more about who they are as a writer. This is an opportunity to help each other get better at the work we do. I’m ever so grateful for this group.  

The best way for me to find books is to wander a bookstore. I haven’t been in a bookstore or a library since COVID-19 wrecked the globe. I miss them so much. Now, I rely on Bookbub or Instagram to let me know about authors I already read. The Kindle store has plenty of discovery for new authors, but I miss the smell of books and coffee and running my fingers over the beautiful covers.  

This year I took a short course that included coming up with a reading list. I overestimated how much I can read, but I’m still going to give it a go. Sixty books in 2022. My kindle is my go-to reading tool. There are some books, like many self-help ones, that I feel like I need the book in hand to flip back and forth between things. 

All the books on the book list I made are nonfiction. But I’m squeezing in fiction. One of my favorite authors has a new book in a series I love coming out this month. I’m blocking off a day to sit and devour. It’s going to be a pizza or macaroni and cheese night.

You can ask a friend what they’re reading. We normally have things in common with friends. Maybe they are reading something you would be interested in. And I bet they will lend you a book to read.  

I’ve been given books at the airport. Someone has finished a book and passed it on to someone else they see reading. I love these books. There is an energy when you give someone a story. Almost always these books are fiction. The spines cracked and creased confirming the book has been well read. 

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If you don’t want to spend money on books, get them at the library. Go online and look for a book you’d like to start with. I pick out a few books on the kindle app and then go look to see what I can get at the library. I’ve been doing e-books while we’ve been hunkered down in our homes.  

My hope is you’ll find a new way to read new things. Look at bestseller lists and pick something there. Or talk to folks around you. I bet you have a coworker who you remembered reading during their lunch break. Ask them. Or the older woman on the train with a library book. We’re everywhere. Hit readers up for some recommendations.  

If you’re visiting my world, you’re probably already into books, but maybe I’ll have given you some ideas for how to find new books to plunder. 

Next week I want to talk about how I’m keeping track of what I read in twenty twenty-two. Come see how I turned my fingers black and blue and tried to get out of doing math.  

What are you reading right now?